If you could have dinner with any four people who are or have been in the research industry, who would they be?

For me this was fun and a little bit of a challenge. But here goes with my dinner table guests in alphabetical order:

John Boni – John become my boss when Quick Test purchased Field Facts in 1988. He taught me a great deal and I still quote him almost daily. Unfortunately he passed away a few years after he retired. John was a special person who treated everyone with respect. He was able to get the most out of his staff and have people reach levels that they didn’t think they could. One of my favorite stories is when I left Quick Test in 1991 for the last time he said “we are even”. Not knowing what he meant I inquired and he responded, “You worked hard and we paid you for the job. We’re even.” John, I still miss you. Thanks for everything!

Eileen Campbell – Eileen is the Chairman, Millwood Brown North America and President, Global Development. I have never had the privilege of meeting Eileen but did see her present at a conference a few years ago. I was on the edge of my seat listening intently to every word she said—which is rare for me. She was a fantastic presenter and her thoughts and style for me were second to none and filled with passion and substance.

Bob Lavidge – Years ago I worked for Elrick & Lavidge and had the opportunity to meet a giant in the industry. Bob spent over 50 years in the industry and in 1966 was President of the American Marketing Association. From 1992 to 1999 he served as the founding chair of the American Marketing Association Foundation. One of my favorite Bob Lavidge stories is when he told me about the first audit he ever did. They rented out a high school gym and actually paid people to bring in their trash, dump it out and record what they had. For me, it was always an honor to work for a company that bore his name. Bob, I hope you are enjoying retirement in Arizona.

Sandy Schwartz – Sandy is one of the industry’s most intelligent people for sure. He is an entrepreneur in every sense of the word and sees so many things that few people can. His listening skills are incredible and his spirit and energy are phenomenal. Sandy has been a good friend and mentor for many years.

Together, the four people I would invite probably have over 140 years of experience in the Marketing Research Industry.

For those of you who know me very well know that I am rarely at a loss for words but, I would sit back and enjoy the interaction from these past and present industry leaders and clearly would learn a tremendous amount.

Who would you invite and why?

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Daniel Starch – what was he thinking when he started this new business? Did he believe that we would always be talking at the C-level (as he was) and what would he make of the industrialization of the industry today?

Philip Barnard – my mentor, the first CEO (and creator) of Kantar and the inventor, along with Jay Wilson, of the global research industry. Phil is funny, wise, totally pragmatic and visionary

Jim Robinson, who died tragically young in September. Founder of Robinson & Muenster in S. Dakota, a Democrat pollster and lobbyist and leader of CASRO’s Government and Public Affairs Committee. Jim was responsible for saving this industry’s bacon in Congress more times than anybody knows. He was a hoot to dine with and almost got us shot in an Arizona restaurant when he challenged a redneck Republican by calling him an a**hole. He was incredibly funny and entertaining and had a host of war stories. I would like to hear them one more time!

Kit Molloy, another mentor and the founder of the company that eventually went on to become GfK-NOP. A suave and highly charming and entertaining gentleman in the old sense of the word, Kit was responsible for so many of the careers of people who went on to become famous in the European MR industry. He died last year and I would have liked to sit down with him one more time and ask him what really motivated him.

There are so many more, but these would be my top four.

And, of course, I do get to sit down to dinner regularly with one of the great legends of the US industry who now happens to be my business partner – Jay Wilson!

Eric Marder would be high on my list. He wrote a fabulous book called the laws of choice. Brilliant and very creative researcher.

Ravi Venkitaraman would also be at my dinner. Ravi is currently down the freeway from you at Burke. We worked together while I was at MARC in the early 90’s. He’s just a very creative and brilliant guy and wonderfully quirky at the same time. He has conversation, in both research and outside it.

Tim Herrlich would also be there. Tim is also a brilliant quant jock with more than just research on his mind. He and I also worked together at MARC and continue our working relationship today. If we couldn’t come up with the best study design between me, tim and ravi, then it just couldn’t be done.

Lois Benedetti, who was my boss at GTE Directories when we won the baldrige would be my final guest. Lois had a fantastic way of getting everyone on board. she was tough but once you earned her trust she was supportive in all the right ways. I often say that she was my toughest boss and the one I learned the most from. Everything was a teaching moment for Lois. She’s also one of those bright shinning stars whose company you enjoy at work and away from the biz.

Unfortunately, I don’t get to that many conferences nor do I get to hear the speaches of people that I don’t directly know. while I have met Bob Lavidge way back when roger bacik introduced me in the late 80’s, we didn’t have enough time for me to become enamoured. I remember liking him without feeling in the presense of greatness. Which I always feel is a sign of a truly confident and great person.